English Lessons

Shohei Ohtani Becomes a Father

Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' designated hitter and global baseball icon, shared an announcement on Instagram about the birth of his newborn daughter with his wife, Mamiko. In his post, Ohtani said he was deeply grateful to his wife and expressed appreciation for his teammates, fans, and the Dodgers organization for their constant encouragement. He missed Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers to be with his wife and was placed on the paternity list, which allows him time off for the birth. If he needs more time, he may be moved to the restricted list. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mentioned that Ohtani is a great compartmentalizer, able to balance personal and professional life, but it remains to be seen how fatherhood will affect his routine.

Ohtani revealed in February 2024 that he had married Mamiko Tanaka, a former basketball star in Japan. In December, he posted a creative photo featuring his dog lying beside a sonogram, a baby romper suit, and tiny shoes, announcing they were expecting their first child. Before taking family leave, Ohtani had participated in all 20 games of the season, maintaining a strong performance. Even during his short absence, the Dodgers managed to secure a win, showing team strength and continued support for their star player.

I. Matching Type: Match the words on the left with their correct definitions on the right.

II. Fill in the Blanks. Use the words from the vocabulary matching list

grateful, paternity list, announcement, teammates, encouragement, sonogram, restricted list, designated hitter, compartmentalizer, newborn

1. Shohei Ohtani made a touching __________ on Instagram about the birth of his daughter.

2. His __________ were supportive during his absence from the game.

3. The player was placed on the __________ so he could spend time with his family.

4. Mamiko received a __________ of their baby before the birth.

5. Ohtani shared his __________ feelings toward his wife.

6. A __________ baby girl was welcomed into their family.

7. The Dodgers gave Ohtani words of __________ as he became a new father.

8. If he needs more time, he could be moved to the __________.

9. Ohtani plays as the team’s __________.

10. His manager said Ohtani is a good __________, balancing personal life and baseball.

III. Open-Ended Questions. Discuss your answers with your teacher.

1. How would you feel if you became a parent while also managing a busy career?
   
   

2. If you were Ohtani’s teammate, what message would you send him?
   
   

3. Why do you think athletes sometimes keep their personal lives private?
   
   

4. What are some good ways to support a friend who just had a baby?
   
   

5. If you were a professional athlete, how would you manage time for family and games?

Thank you!

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/19/sport/shohei-ohtani-paternity-list-first-child-spt-intl/index.html